Panel heating element



June 16, 1964 eV VARLONGA PANEL HEATING ELEMENT Filed Dec. 6, 1960 5 GMF 2 6., F

3 6 4 3 1. J\ H 2 m u I 1 W- H H II I n L m M r n I 3 Q G F F INVENTORGIOVANNI VARLONGA United States Patent F The present invention relatesto panel heating elements, comprising heating medium conducting drawntubes in combination with metal panels, and presenting the followingadvantages over the types presently in use:

(a) High thermal yield,

(b) Low production cost,

(0) The possibility of being employed equally well as a ceilingradiating element, or as a vertical wall convector, (a) The possibilityof easy and economic construction of heating elements of any heightwhatsoever.

Said invention is fundamentally characterized in that a plurality ofequidistant, cylindrical metal tubes in communication with each otherthrough circulating heating water induction or header tubes, and aplurality of suitably folded aluminum plates combine together in aremovable manner, by means of intimate mutual surface contact, in such amanner, that, particularly during the maximum heat transmission phase,they cooperate to establish an efficient mechanical engagement betweenthe contiguous tubes and the fixed plates due to the elastic deformationcreated in said plates. The contact association between the tubes andthe plates is established by the suitable type of folding given to theplates, which are furnished with opposed grooves with their surfacesjoined to the cylindrical portions of the tube or pipe surfaces facinginwards, and into the spaces between which pipes the plates are forciblyinserted. The cylindrical portions of the tube surfaces which come incontact with the respective grooves of each plate amount to slightlyless than half of the total tube surface.

The plates inserted between the contiguous iron tubes traversed by theheating fluid can be made of aluminum sheeting or aluminum alloy foldedover on itself like a flattened tube and comprising in correspondencewith the opposite plates of lesser dimensions, recesses constituting thecontact and engaging grooves for the aforementioned tubes. The edges ofthe plates folded over on themselves can be brought close to each other,spaced away from each other, or superimposed on each other, and in eachof these modifications either free of each other or fixed to each other.

A hood comprised of a tile shaped structure, and longitudinallyperforated along part of its length, closes like a cover the upper endsof the aluminum or aluminum alloy plates shaped in the form of aflattened tube, and encloses in its reach at least one of the multipletubes traversed by the heating element.

The attached drawing and following description of an illustrativeembodiment is given purely as an example, and in no way limits the scopeof the invention; it shows a practical embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of part of the heating element;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively a front elevational view and a plan viewof the heating element complete with the aluminum plates and hood;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line VV ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view to an enlarged scale taken on lineVI-VI of FIG. 3, showing the edges of the plates spaced away from eachother;

Patented June 1 6, 1964 2, FIG.,7 is similar to FIG. 6 but-showing theedges .of the plates brought close to each other;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 6 but showing the edges bf;

the plates superimposed; v

FIG. 9. is similar to FIG. 6 but showing the edges of the plates fixedto each other.

Referring to 'the drawing, theheating element coniprises a system ofwelded drawn steel tubes, forming a number of vertically disposed tubes1, connected at. their upper extremity to the header delivery pipe 2,;and at their lower extremity to the return pipe 3, and a number ofaluminum'or aluminum alloy plates 4 forced on to ormechanically fixed.to, tubes 1, in which tubes 1 the heating fluidfiows, the whole forminga panel functioningboth by convection and by radiation.

In this manner said panel can sustain all working pressure, and thealuminum plates, the thermal conductivity of which is extremely high,are in close contact with the tubes, whereby the heat of the tubes isefficiently trans Before the'aluminurn plates 4 are snap mounted on tube1, a thin film of varnish is applied to the tubes in order to diminishthe average width of-the air layer which is less conductive than thevarnish, and thereby increase the heat transmission from the pipes tothe plates, Said heat transmission is further increased when the varnishcontains metal powder, for example aluminum.

The aluminum plates 4 are formed as tube shaped sheets, and function aschimneys in such a manner as to induce convection.

In said sheet structure 4, and in order to increase the contact withtubes 1 during the operation of the heating element owing to thermalexpansion, grooves .5 are provided on said sheets (FIG. 6) and thesurfaces ofsaid grooves are joined to those of contiguous tubes 1.

The covering hood 6 of the head of the plates 4 (FIG. 5) and of theheader pipe 2 is provided with oblique holes 7, and is forced on to saidplates by means of its edges 8, furnished with suitable grips 9.

It is understood that apart from the employment herein described, otherembodiments and applicationsof the invention can be made, for example,the heating element apart from being used as a vertical wall radiatingpanel, can be employed'for a ceiling, without departing from theinvention.

I claim:

A heating device adapted to operate as a radiator and convector in hotwater, super heated water or high pres sure steam room heatinginstallations, comprising a plurality of equally-spaced verticalcylindrical tubes arranged.

parallel to each other in a row, a circulating heating medium inductionpipe connected to one end of each tube, a return pipe connected to eachof the tubes at their other ends, said tubes being in communication witheach other through the circulating heating medium induction pipe and thereturn pipe, and a plurality of detachable heat-radiatingpanels, eachconsisting of a flexible aluminum. plate folded to a hollow, generallyrectangular shape in horizontal cross-section and positioned in coplanarrelation and open at their tops and bottoms 'remo'vably disposed betweenthe tubes and having intithe back walls lying substantially in the sameplane and said tubes and of a depth to receive substantially half thetransverse width of said tubes, said grooves being substantially equallyspaced from each of said front and back walls a sufiicient distance, atleast approximating the diameter of said tubes, to permit suflicientflexing of said side walls to allow insertion and removal of said panelsbetween two adjacent tubes by movement in either direction transverselyof the row of tubes, said panels resiliently engaging substantially halfthe periphery of said tubes when in position therebetween, a thin layerof a heat conductive coating material disposed in said grooves betweensaid panels and the adjacent tubes, and a hood disposed at the upper endof the device into which the upper ends of said panels are inserted,said hood having and securing the upper ends of said front and backwalls, said hood being provided with an opening for the discharge of airrising through said panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,790,535 Coe Ian. 27, 1931 1,880,274 Phelps Oct. 4, 1932 2,446,895Weiss Aug. 10, 1948 2,558,345 Dickrnan June 26, 1951 2,610,039 DickmanSept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 55,406 Sweden -1. Apr. 2, 1921 600,451

France Nov. 9, 1925

